Transformation of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] with a gene encoding a glyphosate‐tolerance 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase enzyme from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4 resulted in the development of glyphosate‐tolerant line 40‐3‐2. Glyphosate (N‐phosphonomethyl glycine) is the active ingredient of Roundup herbicide. Line 40‐3‐2 was yield tested at 17 locations in 1992,23 locations in 1993, and 18 locations in 1994. At those locations, broadcast applications of glyphosate at various rates were made over 40‐3‐2 or its derivatives from early vegetative growth to pod fill. No significant yield reduction was observed as a result of the glyphosate treatment at any of the locations. Development of glyphosate‐tolerant soybean promises to provide the farmer with access to a new weed control system that should result in lower production costs and reliable weed control under a wide range of conditions.

Trifluralin-resistant Palmer amaranth populations were confirmed at eight locations within two of the ten-county cotton growing region of South Carolina. Different levels of resistance to six dinitroaniline herbicides were observed, but no resistance was observed to herbicides from nine other chemical groups. Five to six times more trifluralin was required to control a resistant than a susceptible biotype under field conditions.

Application of chlorimuron and imazaquin at 0.28 kg ai/ha to field-grown sicklepod at early bloom and early fruit stages in 1984 and 1985 almost eliminated seed production. In addition, none of the seed produced following these treatments were capable of emergence during a 4-week period following acid scarification. Glyphosate applied at 0.28 kg ai/ha at early bloom decreased seed production 84% but did not affect seedling emergence in 1984, and precluded production of seed capable of emergence in 1985. Glyphosate applications at the early fruit stage reduced the number of seed that emerged 93 and 90% in 1984 and 1985, respectively. Application of 2,4-DB at 0.28 kg ai/ha and 2,4-D at 0.56 kg ai/ha at early bloom did not affect seed production or emergence in 1984 but almost eliminated production of seed capable of emergence in 1985. Applications of 2,4-DB and 2,4-D at the early fruit stage decreased the number of seed that emerged 99 and 52% in 1984 and 46 and 57% in 1985, respectively. Herbicide applications at the late fruit stage were generally less effective than earlier applications in reducing seed production and emergence.

Current environmental concerns justify renewed evaluation of crop management strategies that offer promise for maintaining or increasing productivity while reducing environmental impacts. Field studies were conducted using weed‐free conditions to determine the effects of corn (Zea mays L.) leaf orientation on light interception, vegetative and reproductive development, and grain yields. ‘DeKalb 689’ was handseeded in north‐south rows to achieve populations of 22 000 and 33 000 plants/acre. Controlled seed positioning in the soil was used to attain across‐row and with‐row leaf orientations, while conventional planting provided random leaf orientation. Light interception, intraspecific competition among corn plants, and grain yield were affected by leaf orientation and plant population. At selected row positions 8 wk after planting, light interception for across‐row leaf orientation exceeded random and with‐row orientations by up to 10 and 25%, respectively, while light interception for the high plant population exceeded the low population by up to 15%. Across‐row and random leaf orientations produced 8% greater leaf area than with‐row orientation. Greater intraspecific competition was indicated for the high plant population due to lower leaf area, leaf biomass, and stalk biomass per plant than the low population. Grain yields were greater at the high than the low plant population for all leaf orientations. At the high plant population, across‐row leaf orientation yielded 10 and 21% more than random and with‐row orientations, respectively. Therefore, across‐row leaf orientation at the high plant population should provide more rapid canopy closure, enhance crop competition with weeds, and reduce dependence on herbicides while enhancing grain yields. Research Question Manipulation of the corn canopy to enhance light interception through greater light penetration and more uniform distribution offers the potential for reducing intraspecific competition and increasing grain yield. Regulating corn leaf orientation by controlling seed placement in the soil may provide a means to achieve these results. The objectives of this research were to determine the effects of corn leaf orientation on light interception, intraspecific competition, and grain yield. Literature Summary At high productivity levels, the primary ecological factor limiting corn yield is light. By improving light‐use efficiency of the crop canopy, it should be possible to increase grain yields. Corn yields have been increased by physical manipulation of the leaf angle, by selecting plants with increased leaf angle, and by using aluminum reflectors to increase light flux. These methods permit greater light penetration and provide more uniform distribution of light over greater leaf area. Orientation of corn leaves can be influenced by seed placement in the soil and may offer an effective means for increasing light interception, reducing intraspecific competition, and enhancing the rapidity of canopy closure. Row orientation and plant population have been show...

‘Ransom’, ‘Govan’, and ‘Bragg’ soybeans [Glycine max(L.) Merr.] were seeded in 30-, 61-, and 91-cm row spacings to achieve a uniform population of 323 000 plants/ha. In 1979 and 1980, shade development within the row was similar for all row spacings, but 15 cm from the row the inflection point occurred earlier when soybeans were seeded at the 30-cm row spacing. In 1979, shading 30 cm from the row was similar with the 61- and 91-cm row spacings, but in 1980 the 61-cm row spacing provided earlier shading. Shading within the row and 15 and 30 cm from the row was similar for all cultivars in 1979, but Govan and Bragg shaded row middles earlier than Ransom at the 91-cm row spacing. In 1980, shade development in the row was similar for all cultivars, but delayed shading was observed between the rows with Ransom. In 1979, maximum soybean seed yields were produced with 2, 2, and 0 weed-free weeks at the 30-, 61-, and 91-cm row spacings, respectively. In 1980, 2 weed-free weeks prevented soybean seed yield reductions at all row spacings. In 1979, Ransom, Bragg, and Govan required 4, 2, and 0 weed-free weeks, respectively, for maximum seed yields. In 1980, all cultivars achieved maximum seed yields with 2 weed-free weeks.